Review of Appaloosa (2008) by Norman D — 22 Aug 2009

The only way I can grudgingly go along with the apparently clear majority of nice red tomatoes this file garnered is to conclude that Ed Harris set out to and succeeded in making a western emulating the genre circa mid 1950s.

Appaloosa has its psychological nuances and quirks (as, indeed, the westerns of half a century did too) but these are subordinate to delivering a story that faithfully follows and refreshes every cliche known to the genre, right to the final ride off into the literal sunset.

At many points as I watched I was muttering "they've got to be kidding" as one predictably unfolding event followed another. There were exceptions (SPOILER) as for example the weird sexuality of Allison French (Renée Zellweger) but for the most part, there was a dearth of surprise.

And I think that's exactly what Harris intended in this flattened traditionalist response to other recent westerns that have turned heroes into figures of existential angst.